Originally uploaded Dec 27, 2022

Kaspian Pov

Grey. The only thing that gave away his younger age was his shorter stature. Everything else, from the way he walked to the way he talked was that of a well defined adult.

No, above that. He seemed to have a sort of regal air around him. Almost as if he was a king. And he seemed to have the means to back it up.

Though it was for only a moment, I felt it. I have faced a great deal of mana beasts when I was adventuring. But they all paled in comparison to what I just felt.

It wasn't pure terror or intimidation. No. It felt as if I was in the presence of something far greater. There was no strong will behind it, but it was made abundantly clear.

It felt as if a great being, a deity was gazing down upon my very soul. I was glad it only lasted a second. Any more and I don't know how I would have reacted.

There was no mention of any family records of any sort in his profile. Though he obviously had some sort of connection to the Flamesworth household. Exactly what kind of individual have they found?

Making my way towards the examination grounds I search for the masked man.

And how surprised I was finding him striking up a conversation with another person. I would have guessed from his secretive profile to masked face that he would be a quiet person, he just surprises me at every turn.

I could barely make out their words but Grey's tone and movement seemed.... strained. Almost as if he was preoccupied with something else on his mind. He most likely had a motive striking a conversation with... if my memory serves me correctly that boy with the glasses is Elijah Knight.

A representative spent from Darv, with glowing words of recommendation. Sadly I doubt I'll see Elijah battle today.

The funner thing was Elijah, he also seemed strained in his verse with Grey.

'Huh, if I didn't know any better I would have thought they shared some kind of messy history with each other.'

I was snapped out of my thoughts when the examiner announced the next person.

"Grey!" His name rang throughout the examination grounds. As he casually made his down to the ground level. Every step was filled with an effortless confidence, as if this was a stroll in the park for him.

"It seems like you're testing under special conditions, seeing as we don't have any information on you. Then let's see what you're--" The examiner halted as he was unsheathing his sword.

A look of pure fear was plastered all over his face as Grey drew his sword from his scabbard in a single smooth motion, almost as if he as been wielding a sword for decades.

I couldn't just watch this, I can't let somebody die or be traumatized today.

"Enough."

All eyes were focused on me as I halted both of their actions. Walking up to Grey I draw my own blade.

A beautifully handmade gold guard and handle with a thin blade, made more for stabbing than cleaving the enemy. It hummed to life in my hands as it reacted to my mana.

"I'll be the one to test this particulate examinee. That shouldn't be a problem.... right? Mr. Grey."

He only curtly nodded as we distanced ourselves.

In a practice fight like this it was less of a fight a more a conversation. A conversation using blades and spells instead of words. Every intent and action clearly visible and audible to the other person. By analyzing another person fighting style and stance you could accurately gauge things from their personality to their little habits even they aren't aware of.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

'Now, Grey. Let's see if my assessment of you is correct.'

Mana surged from my core to me body, strengthening my bones and muscles as a thing layer of pure mana coated my blade and body. It was still an examination after all, not a real fight to the death.

Yet, Grey just stood there. His face unreadable through his white mask with only two gleaming golden eyes peering back at me. His Pale blond hair fluttering slightly in the wind. He has his sword drawn but took no recognizable stance. Just standing relaxed with his arms down by his sides with only this legs parted enough to be seen as any sort of stance.

No, the stranger things was the lack of mana I felt from him. While it wasn't rare for a mage to conceal their mana in day to day life, in combat almost all mana wielders leaked some kind of intent. But there he was just standing there, you could mistake him for just a manaless sword wielder.

"Please prepare yourself and don't take this... special treatment to heart." I announced as I pointed the tip of my blade at him.

He simply nodded again as he matched my stance.

Letting mana build up in my legs and feet I launch myself at him as the wind mana guides me towards my destination.

But my first strike was easily dodged as Grey simply sidestepped away from my blade.

'Have I gone senile? He dodged my attack so easily.' I thought as I utilized wind magic again to redirect my attack to strike his chest.

My thin blade was met by Grey's. Hoping he was distracted by our blades clashing I pulse mana to my legs again as I rush behind him in a flurry of wind. This time aiming for his head.

And how surprised I was when Grey seemingly blocked by reaching over his back and parried my blow without even looking back.

He quickly stepped back, taking advantage of our close distance as his blade slide down my own and he grabbed my sword's guard. Rolling me over his back and over his head, he throws me with incredible strength I wouldn't have expected someone of his size to have.

I was only in the air for a fraction of a second by he was closing the distance. His sword poised to land the final blow.

Channeling mana from my core I cast a simple wind spell to re-orientate myself I as landed on the ground and our blade clashed again.

Our faces were only inches apart, he mostly likely could see that I was excited. How could I not? This was more than I had hopped for.

"Excellent." I muttered as I channeled my mana into my limbs as I began a fury of quick attacks.

But they were either all blocked or dodge by my masked opponent.

Placing some distance between us again. I catch my breath as I look at Grey.

"Seems like Miss Flamesworth has picked someone worthwhile after all." With that I raise my sword again. This time it vibrated and glowed with life as my mana surged through it.

A condensed beam beam of wind shot forth. With enough strength and speed to cut own a large tree. I expected him to dodge. Any logical human would have dodged. Yet he stood there not moving, with my spell racing towards him.

Had I overestimated him? Was I going to accidental kill him and make the Flamesworth family my enemy? I was readying to rush towards Grey in a feeble attempt to counter my own spell.

But it was all for not, as Grey raised his left hand. And the condensed beam of slightly green air of my spell halted in its tracks.

An audible gasp could be heard from the audience. But Grey didn't waste any time, making a pushing motion with his hand my spell was redirected back at me. Quickly getting out of the way my spell hits the wall behind me with a resoundingly loud impact sound.

Before I could recover from what just happened Grey was fast approaching.

Casting multiple of my wind arrow spell I try to buy time but it was all a waste. They either all fizzled out or immediately stopped midair as Grey swung his blade at my neck.

Our blades locked again, my sword was wreathing visibly with wind attribute mana. Yet his blade had no traces of any sort of mana.

'Just who is testing who exactly?' I thought in my head. It felt as if Grey was showing less that what he was capable of. Everything before he made a move he seemed to take a moment to think. Almost as if he was the one testing me.

A gale of wind burst forth as the audience was blasted back. Yet Grey just stood there blocking my spell with his sword. The strong winds only tousling his blonde hair.

Increasing my spell casting speed I try to create an opening as all my spells were countered by him. He even seemed to speed up his movements himself as he dodged and weaved around my spells and strikes.

'Am I going to lose?'

Unleashing a final windstorm the audience all pulls back as dust rises up from the ground. But Grey seemed not bothered by it at all. Where most mages would be sent flying he closed to distance again at unbelievable speeds.

Grabbing my sword arm in his left hand, I try to free myself but his grip was that of iron. Unable to free myself he pulls his own sword wielding arm back and strikes me hard in the chest with the butt of his sword.

"ACK!" Was all I could grunt out as my spell dissipated, and Grey kicked off of my own body to place himself several meters away from me.

Releasing my mana it abandons my body and drifts away into the atmosphere.

"I got a bit carried away trying to test your limits. My apologies." i try to say in a friendly manner as I sheathed my sword. My breathe still winded by his last strike to my chest.

Seemingly the dust has obscured the audiences vision and they weren't able to see our last exchange.

"You surprised me Grey, yet given the fact that you so adamantly withheld your full abilities, I can only assume you wish to be place at a lower rank."

"Grey. A rank."